The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-07-14
THURSDAY, JULY "A, 1887.
A FRESH START.

hR ROhAbN HNNtN hOhh w ItN'
ent Ministry not only an honest and
economical administration, but an
active policy Of developing the re-
sources Of the Kingdom. Time is
doubtless required to clear the decks
for action, there is so much rubbish
strewed about from the Gibson regime
Of visionary schemes Of intangible
nationa, glori6cation. There has also
to be elected Legislature for ratify-
ing the adjustment Of tangled affairs by
the Cabinet, and providing ways and
means for the new administration. But
the country will look for the presenta-
ton to the Legislature Of clear, def
mite, and practical exposition Of Minis
terial policy, as comprehensive and
liberal as may be deemed possible o
execution during the succeeding period T
Nothing was more unstatesmanlike, or
more conspiouously showed the unfit
ness of Mr.. Gibson to be at the helm
OF affairs, than the uncertain relations
always existing between the Govern
ment and the Assembly. The late
Premier was a man who would not take
a stand upon any principle or public
project, so as to be bound by the
issues Of the Legislatures delberation.
Some OF his colleagues in different of
the series Of Ministers he led did
eyince that they had marked out spe.
cihc lines Of action in the more i'm
portant functions Of their Departments;
but sometimes under the guidance and
often through the bad faith Of their
leader, whose policy was comprehended
in the phrase, "Power at any price"
these Ministers were compelled TO
allow every item Of practical policy to
be subordinated to the visionary ideals
of the Premier and the grasping and
squanderng propensities OF the mob of
office-holders and royal vassals, who
voted away the revenues and made laws
for the especial benefit of rings OF
public robbers and state mendicants.
Better things would be expected OF the
new Ministry, even if they were re-
quired to rule under the old Constitu-
ton; but now that they have good
foundation laid for conducting affairs
on the basis Of the common good, it
will be taken as matter Of course that
from the outset they will establish
clear understanding between them
selves and the representatives Of the
people, and having formed their pur-
poses submit them tothe deliberatiop OF
the Assembly. Ministerial proposals
in matters of national interest should,
while subject to modification by the
Legislature, have a groundwork OF
principle on which the Cabinet should
take their stand. OF course it is to be
presumed that Ministers will have the
privilege, in their places in the Assem-
bly, of introducing bills as individual
members, the principles of which would
not bind the introducer or his col
leagues as matters Of public policy. II
is customary, under the British parlia,
mentary system, when doubt arises as
to whether the Ministry takes the re-
sponsibility for a measure emanating
from the treasury benches, for the
leader of the house to inform members
on the point The supporters Of the
Ministry are told If the question is left
an open one, or, on the contrary, made
vital issue by the Ministry. In the
former case members vote strictly
according to their personal opinions
but, in the latter, they have to decide
if opposed TO the measure, whether the
issue involved is grave enough to justify
them in voting down the Ministry
Before, however, specific rules arr
adopted, defining where the response
bility of Ministers in the Assembly i
to begin and end, there would prob